WO2011113652A1

WO2011113652A1 - Illuminating device

Info

Publication number: WO2011113652A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/052140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Scheps
Original assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-03-18
Filing date: 2011-02-14
Publication date: 2011-09-22
Also published as: US20130010354A1; DE102010003036B4; US9341834B2; DE102010003036A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an illuminating device (1) for a microscope, comprising a holder (2) which carries a plurality of lighting units (L1) to be positioned in an illuminating target position and a pivot system (S) with which the holder (2) can be rotated around a pivot axis (5) such that each lighting unit (L1) can be selectively positioned in the illuminating target position, wherein the rotational range of the holder (2) around the pivot axis (5) is less than 360°.

Description

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The present invention relates to a lighting device with which one of a plurality of lighting units can be selectively positioned in a desired lighting position. Such a lighting device can be used in particular in a microscope.

For example, fluorescent lamps with high-power LED radiation sources are used today, for example for fluorescence microscopy. In this case, it is often necessary to change the wavelength irradiated into the microscope onto the specimen in order to be able to observe the specimen at different fluorescence wavelengths.

From DE 103 14 125 A1 it is known to arrange differently colored LED lighting units on a rotatable wheel. The wheel is turned to change the wavelength. In this solution, the LED units must be contacted via sliding contacts in the LED radiation sources in order to be able to supply the corresponding electrical energy for the lighting units.

DE 10 2008 015 720 A1 describes a lighting device in which the LEDs are fixed and a mirror staircase below the LEDs is rotatable. This embodiment is complicated and requires a large amount of space.

US 2008/0310017 A1 describes a lighting device using e.g. two LEDs are arranged laterally displaceable. But a large space is required (because of the lateral displacement) and the leads for the LEDs are moved relatively far when switching, resulting in high wear after itself.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighting device with a plurality of lighting units, which are selectively positionable in a desired lighting position, the lighting device should be compact and durable. According to the invention the object is achieved by a lighting device for a microscope, with a holder which carries a plurality to be positioned in a desired lighting position lighting units, and a pivoting device, with the holder can be rotated about a pivot axis, that each lighting unit is selectively positionable in the desired lighting position , Wherein the rotation range of the holder about the pivot axis is less than 360 °.

By this type of pivoting for positioning of the lighting units in the desired lighting position of the necessary space is lower compared to the known solutions. In particular, when accommodating the lighting device according to the invention in a tripod upper body of a microscope, this is advantageous because there the free space is limited.

Furthermore, the electrical leads can be easily formed. There are no sliding contacts necessary and the movement of the supply line during the pivoting movement are minimal, whereby a long durability is achieved.

In the lighting device according to the invention, each of the lighting units may each have an optical axis, wherein the optical axes of the lighting units are aligned parallel to the pivot axis.

In this arrangement, the space required for the pivotal movement is advantageously small. Further, the pivot means may be formed and arranged so that the force of gravity is used as a restoring force or as an additional restoring force.

In the lighting device according to the invention, at least one of the lighting units can be exchangeably mounted in the holder. In this case, the holder may have a light unit fixing, which fixes the lighting unit releasably in the holder. In particular, may include in the light unit fixing a spring, which clamps the light unit in the holder due to their spring force. Thus, a very flexible lighting device is provided in which the desired lighting units are easily replaceable. In particular, a tool-free replacement is possible, so that the lighting device can be adapted to the individual needs quickly.

Furthermore, the lighting device may have a locking module which fixes the holder in each case when one of the lighting units is positioned in the desired lighting position is. This increases the reliability of the lighting device, since the corresponding lighting unit can be kept permanently in the desired lighting position.

Furthermore, the lighting device according to the invention may have a detection module which indicates when one of the lighting units is positioned by means of the pivoting device in the desired lighting position. This can be used to energize the corresponding lighting unit only when the corresponding information of the detection module has been detected. This increases the safety of the entire device. In particular, with high power sources can be ensured that the corresponding lighting unit is operated only when it is also positioned in the required lighting target position.

The detection module may for example comprise a magnet and a Hall sensor, one of these two elements being fixed to the holder and the other being arranged independently of the holder so that it does not move with the holder. Thus, for example, a Hall sensor can be provided stationary for each desired position and be attached to the holder, a permanent magnet. The Hall sensors are arranged so that in each desired position, the magnet is positioned in front of one of the Hall sensors. This can be detected in a simple manner, which light unit is in the desired position. Of course, in the detection module, a Hall sensor to be mounted on the holder and a magnet for each light unit to be arranged stationary so that the Hall sensor always emits a corresponding signal when positioning one of the light units in the desired lighting position. The holder of the lighting device according to the invention may carry two or more lighting units. Preferably, the distance between each lighting unit to the pivot axis is the same size, so that the positioning in the desired lighting position can be performed by pivoting about the pivot axis. The pivoting device can rotate the holder motor-driven about the pivot axis. This makes an automatic change of lighting units possible. The lighting unit may in particular comprise an LED radiation source. Of course, the lighting unit may have other necessary for the operation of elements, such as a corresponding optics. In the lighting device according to the invention, the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the lighting units are preferably different. However, the radiation emitted by the lighting units may also differ in other beam parameters (such as polarization). The pivoting device of the lighting device according to the invention may comprise a gear segment and a rack, wherein the gear segment is non-rotatably connected to the holder and with its teeth is engaged with the teeth of the rack, which is slidably mounted relative to the holder. This can be carried out in a cost effective manner a very accurate and reproducible pivoting of the holder.

Alternatively, it is possible that the pivoting means comprises a guided in an elongated recess pin and a relative to the holder slidably mounted slide, wherein the elongated recess is formed either in the slide or in the holder and the pin is connected to the holder when the elongated Recess is formed in the slide, and is connected to the slider when the elongated recess is formed in the holder. If the elongated recess is formed in the slide, it can be configured in particular as a slot.

With this design of the swivel alignment is an externa most cost-effective pivoting possible with the desired pivoting or oscillating movement of the holder can be performed.

It is further provided a microscope with a lighting device according to the invention. In the case of the microscope, the lighting device can also be designed according to the preferred embodiments. The desired illumination position of the illumination device is preferably the position in which the rays of the corresponding illumination unit can be used to illuminate a sample to be examined with the microscope. Furthermore, the microscope may have further, known in the art elements that are necessary for operation of the microscope.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the specified combinations but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail for example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which also disclose characteristics essential to the invention. Show it :

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the lighting device 1 according to the invention, in which the holder 2 is in a first pivot position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, wherein the holder 2 is in a second pivot position.

3 and 4 are plan views of the holder for explaining the fixing of a lighting unit in a recess of the holder.

Fig. 5 - 7 perspective views for explaining the fixation of a lighting unit L1 in the recess 3 of the holder 2, and

Fig. 8 is a plan view for explaining an alternative embodiment in the

Pivoting device S. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lighting device 1 according to the invention comprises a holder 2 with two receptacles 3, 4 for receiving in each case one (not shown) lighting unit, which may be formed for example as an LED module.

The holder 2 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 5 in a housing 30, wherein in Fig. 1, a first pivot position and in Fig. 2, a second pivot position of the holder 2 is shown. In the first pivoting position according to FIG. 1, the lighting unit (not shown) held in the first receptacle 3 is in a desired lighting position and can be used to illuminate an object. In particular, the lighting device 1 can be used in a microscope.

In the swivel position shown in Fig. 2, however, the second receptacle 4 is in the desired illumination position, so that the held in the second receptacle 4 lighting unit (not shown) can be used for lighting. In order to pivot the holder 2 in the manner described, a gear segment 6 is provided, which is rotatably connected to the holder 2. The gear segment 6 is with its teeth in engagement with the teeth of a rack 7 which is slidably mounted in two guides 8 (in Figures 1 and 2 from right to left and vice versa).

By moving the rack 7 from its position shown in Fig. 1 to its position shown in Fig. 2, the holder 2 is pivoted about the pivot axis 5, wherein the first receptacle 3 is pivoted out of the desired lighting position and the second receptacle 4 in the desired lighting position (Fig. 2) is positioned. The holder 2 thus forms a kind of pendulum that can oscillate back and forth about the pivot axis 5. The pivot axis 5, the gear segment 6 and the rack 7 with the guides 8 form a pivoting device S for the holder. 2 As can be seen from the illustrations in FIGS. 1 and 2, the total or maximum pivoting range is less than 360 ° (thus, no complete rotation can be performed). In the example described here, the swivel range is approximately 60 °. As can also be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the toothed rack 7 has a stop 9, which rests against the right-hand guide 8 in the swivel position of the holder 2 shown in FIG.

The pivoting of the holder can be performed by manual operation of the rack 7. However, it is also possible to provide a drive to move the rack 7. This allows a controlled positioning of the lighting units.

Furthermore, the lighting device has a locking module 10, which locks the holder 2 in the pivot positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. For this purpose, the locking module 10 comprises a spring 1 1, at the front end of a cylindrical pin 12 is fixed, on which a roller 13 is rotatably mounted. The other end of the spring 1 1 is fixed locally in the housing 30, as indicated by the screws 14.

In the swivel positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a recess (not shown) is formed on the front side 15 of the holder, into which the roller 13 is pressed in due to the spring force, whereby the desired locking is achieved. Upon movement or pivoting of the holder 2, the roller 13 runs out of the recess into which it just stands (eg the recess for the first receptacle 3), out and along the front 15 of the holder 2 until it engages with the recess of the other Recording 4 comes (Fig. 2), so that in turn the desired fixation is achieved.

The lighting device 1 can be designed so that the pivot positions are detected according to Figures 1 and 2 (for example, via the position of the rack 7) and then that lighting unit L1, L2 is energized, which is located in the desired lighting position. Of course, any other type of detection of the pivot position is possible.

For example, Hall sensors can be used for detection, wherein for each of the two pivot positions, a Hall sensor 31, 32 is fixedly secured to the housing 30, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. With the Hall sensors 31, 32 it can be detected whether a magnet 33 fixed to the holder is located in front of the corresponding Hall sensor 31, 32. If this is the case, the corresponding lighting unit can be energized by means of a (not shown) control, so that the lighting unit generates the desired illumination light. Due to the oscillating mounting of the holder 2, it is possible to form the lighting device 1 overall very compact. Furthermore, no complicated contacting is necessary, as is required for example in brackets that can be completely rotated. Such a contact has, for example, sliding contacts. This is not necessary in an advantageous manner in the lighting device 1 according to the invention, since only one pendulum movement is to be carried out, so it is only pivoted back and forth. Preferably, the necessary cable feed is performed close to the pivot axis 5. Also, the lighting device 1 according to the invention is less expensive compared to known slide solutions for changing the lighting units in the production with the same precision.

In the lighting device 1 according to the invention, the holder 2 is formed so that the lighting units L1 are held interchangeable in the receptacles 3 and 4. For this purpose, each receptacle 3, 4 a spring clip 16, 17, each comprising a fixing portion 18, 19 and an actuating portion 20, 21.

As can be seen in the illustration in FIG. 3, in which the holder 2 is shown without pivot axis 5 and gear segment 6, the fixing sections 18, 19 protrude into the receiving area of the receptacles 3, 4. In order to fix a lighting unit L1 in the receptacle 3, only the spring clip 16 must be pushed upward (indicated by arrow P1 in Fig. 4), so that the fixing section 18 is no longer in the receiving area of the receptacle 3. Then, the lighting unit L1 can be inserted into the receptacle 3 (as shown in Figures 5 to 7) and due to the restoring force of the spring clip 16, the fixing portion 18 presses against the side wall of the lighting unit L1, so that it is fixed in the receptacle 3.

Preferably, the lighting unit L1 has a circumferential annular groove 22, in which the fixing portion 18 engages when fixed in the receptacle 3, as shown schematically in Figures 5 to 7. Furthermore, the lighting unit L1 may have a stop ring 23 whose outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter of the receptacle 3. The distance between the stop ring 23 and annular groove 22 is selected so that the fixing portion 18 of the spring clip 16 is in the annular groove 22 when the stop ring 23rd on the top 24 of the holder 2 is located. FIGS. 3 to 7 also show a contacting section 25, which is used to supply power to the lighting units L1. Furthermore, each lighting unit L1 has an optical axis OA.

With this type of fixation of the lighting units L1 in the holder 2, the lighting units L1 can be replaced without tools and thus user-friendly. Furthermore, the illumination device is designed such that the optical axes OA of the light units L1 fixed in the holder 2 are parallel to the pivot axis 5. This is achieved in an advantageous manner that the space to be provided for the pivoting movement space can be extremely small or minimal.

In the embodiment described so far, the pivoting device S comprises the pivot axis 5, the gear segment 6, the rack 7 and the guides 8. In Fig. 8, an alternative embodiment of the pivoting device S is shown. In this embodiment, instead of the gear segment 6 and the rack 7 a connected to the holder 2 pin 26 is provided, which projects from the top 24 of the holder upwards and in a slot 27 of a slider 28. The slider 28 is slidably mounted in the two guides 8, so that it can be moved in the illustration of Fig. 8 to the left and right. The slot 27 extends perpendicular to the direction of displacement, so that upon displacement of the slider 28, the desired pivoting movement about the (not shown in Fig. 8) pivot axis 5 can be performed. In Fig. 8, the lighting units L1 are not shown in the same manner as in Figures 1 to 4 for simplicity of illustration. Of course, the pivoting device S may be formed in any other way to perform the desired gift or pendulum movement of the holder 2.

In the embodiments described so far, the holder 2 has two receptacles 3, 4. Of course, it is possible that the holder 2 has more than two seats 3, 4. Preferably, the distance of the center of each receptacle 3, 4 of the holder 2 to the pivot axis 5 is the same size. In this case, only the pivotal movement described is necessary to bring the corresponding recording and thus held in the recording light unit L1 in the desired lighting position. The lighting device 1 according to the invention can, as described, have a housing 30. The housing 30 can be designed such that it can be attached to a housing (not shown) of a microscope, can be connected thereto or inserted into the housing of the microscope. However, it is also possible to provide no housing 30 in the lighting device 1 according to the invention, but instead to arrange the lighting device 1 directly in the housing of the device for which the lighting device 1 is designed. In particular, the lighting device 1 can be arranged in the housing of a microscope.

Claims

claims

Lighting device (1) for a microscope, with

a holder (2) carrying a plurality of lighting units (L1) to be positioned in a desired lighting position,

and a pivoting device (S) with which the holder (2) can be rotated about a pivot axis (5) such that each lighting unit (L1) is selectively positionable in the desired illumination position,

wherein the rotation range of the holder (2) about the pivot axis (5) is smaller than 360 °.

Lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting units (L1) each have an optical axis (OA) and the optical axes (OA) of the lighting units (L1) are aligned parallel to the pivot axis (5).

Lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the light units (L1) is interchangeably mounted in the holder (2).

Lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the holder (2) has a light unit fixing (16, 17) which fixes the lighting unit (L1) releasably in the holder (2).

Lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the light unit fixing (16) comprises a spring, which clamps the light unit in the holder due to its spring force.

Lighting device according to one of the above claims, wherein a locking module (10) is provided which fixes the holder (2) in each case when one of the lighting units (L1) is positioned in the desired lighting position.

7. Lighting device according to one of the above claims, wherein a detection module (31, 32, 33) is provided which indicates when one of the lighting units (L1) by means of the pivoting device (S) is positioned in the desired lighting position.

8. Lighting device according to one of the above claims, wherein the pivoting means (S) motor-driven, the holder (2) rotates about the pivot axis (5).

9. Lighting device according to one of the above claims, wherein the lighting unit (1) comprises an LED radiation source.

10. Lighting device according to one of the above claims, wherein the pivoting device (S) a gear segment (6) and a rack (7), wherein the gear segment (6) rotatably connected to the holder (2) and with its teeth in engagement with the teeth of the rack (7), which is relative to

Holder (2) is mounted displaceably.

1 1. Lighting device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the pivoting device (S) has a pin (26) guided in an elongate recess (27) and a slide (28) displaceably mounted relative to the holder (2), the elongate recess ( 27) is formed either in the slide (28) or in the holder (2) and the pin (26) with the holder (2) is connected when the elongated recess (27) in the slide (28) is formed, and with the Slider (28) is connected when the elongated recess (27) in the holder (2) is formed.

12. A microscope with a lighting device according to one of the above claims.